Warning this chapter has Main Character death.
I am still not so proud of this chapter but hopefully I was able to write everyone well enough.
Azula didn't like when her plans didn't go her direction. She couldn't handle it, she had to be exactly right since they were so predictable but apparently this time life decided to give her a twist that made her sick.
" What do you mean my brother is dead ? " She stated simply as she stared at the Dai Li agent in front of her daring the man to say another word. In his hand was a soaked tea apron and a boomerang from the WaterTribe. She could feel Mai and Ty Lee eyes burning into the back of her head making her composer hard to hold.
" Sorry Princess Azula, but this is all we could find of them. It was at the end of a water pathway to the underground caverns. A fall like that would kill anyone, and bodies are hardly discovered if they fall. " He admitted he kept his composer but he was scared of getting burned to death.
Azula could tell the man wasn't lying about anything. She still played with the idea of her brother. Yes she could admit her brother was a weaker link in the family tree along with their mother, but she had to admit he was resilient. She knew that Zuko wouldn't die in such a simple way, drowning in the Earth Nation canel. Maybe the water tribe boy, but not Zuko.
Though she still had to accept the possibility of his demise. That thought left such a big pit in her stomach, a pit she must ignore. She carefully took the teacot and snatched the boomerang. " I'll keep these, until the Avatar and Uncle return. Knowing them they will come back for this. You can leave now. "
The Dai Li agent quickly nodded before speeding off. She glanced back down at the tea coat, she glanced over her shoulder to see Mai and Ty Lee. Of course they didn't keep their emotions in check like she was trained to do.
Ty Lee was crying as she wiped her tears on her sleeve. Mai just frowned, but this frown actually showed mourning yet denial.
" Well girls we got to get ready for the fight. We don't know when they will return. " Azula told them as she walked past, " I'll send more of those agents to find them, I can't return home without a body. Father would want to bury him "
She missed the glance that Ty Lee and Mai gave each other.
Aang couldn't accept Guru Pathik's words, " I have to give up on Katara ! "
" You have to give up on all worldly ties." Pathik said calmly as Aang was freaking out in front of him.
Aang paced around the room, " But that means everyone, my friends, the people who need my help, the memories of my airbender family. I can't give that up ! " He turned his hands to him.
" If you don't you won't be able to connect to the Avatar state. " Pathik told him.
Aang sighed and eventually sat down " Ok. I'll try. "
Aang opens his eyes in the Avatar state, a void of darkness with a glowing purple path. As he lets go of all of the laughing and fun moments he tighten his fist. He tried to ignore Katara giggles and walk forward. Why was he doing this, he can't forget them. Just as he was about to accept this last step to the state a scream broke him out of his daze. Looking back he saw through the eyes of one of his friends, they were falling. He could see Mai and Ty Lee standing over the edge before water took over the vision. His heart stopped, no no his friends were in danger ! He turned away from himself and everything started to fall apart.
He ran from the temple to Appa. He could hear the Guru screaming about how if he left now it would never return, but he didn't care. He had to check on his friends now. Jumping on Appa he let that sinking feeling eat him away during the ride.
His first stop was to Katara, he hoped she was safe.
Back at the camp, Katara stood with her Father as she held him in a teary hug. She had kinda ranted about her feelings and Hadoka took the rant he knew he would get. They had recovered and then talked battle plans.
" Still I'm sorry Sokka couldn't make it. He just had to stay in Ba Sing Se instead of me. " Katara hummed as she smiled " I have a feeling it's about that apparently horrible tea shop. I should never step ten feet too because it's nasty. "
Hadoka laughed loudly as he held her shoulder, " Let him have his secret tea shop Katara, just for the day. Please write to me about the details. "
She just laughed before noticing the sun rays getting blocked. Looking up she could see Aang and Appa flying over. Aang landed right in front of her, his face grim.
No.
" Aang ? What's wrong ? " Katara asked as she ran to Appa and got on. She didn't get the chance to say goodbye as Aang took off in the sky. Aang didn't respond fast enough, " Aang ! What's wrong !? " She said even more worried.
" I don't know ! I had a vision that one of you was in danger. Like falling into water as Azula's friends watch ! " Aang admitted as he held onto Appa tighter.
Katara just nodded as she looked forward. She was as worried as he was. She just hoped everything was ok.
They soon found Toph, who had just escaped from a kidnapping situation. Aang was hopeful thinking it might have been her but she didn't get kidnapped by Mai and Ty Lee. So that left Sokka, who should have been safe in Ba Sing Se.
The flight back to Ba Sing Se was a nerve-wrenching one. They just stayed silent hoping Sokka would be ok, he would be just in the house goofing off or talking with the king.
Though once they got there, they checked on the king. He assured them everything was alright, Sokka was with the Kyoshi Warriors. Besides, his bear would have warned him of any danger.
So with that answer they had to walk back to the house. Aang frowned as he walked, " I could have sworn I saw it. "
" Maybe it was under someone else's eyes ? " Katara asked as she walked, opening the door. Before she could give her reasoning Momo flew from the darkness and landed right on Aang's shoulder burying his head on him.
They realized how wrong they were. Aang's eyes widened, " Momo ! " If Momo was here that meant something had to be wrong. He had told Sokka to watch over him !
Before they could talk about what to do next, a knock on the door interpreted their thoughts. While Katara and Aang where caustios of the mysterious man at the door, Toph just smiled wide. She walked to the door, " Don't worry I remember this guy. He is a friend. "
As Toph opened the door, they were greeted by the familiar face they didn't want to see.
" You ! " Katara shouted as she held her hand up, already getting water out of her pouch to use. Aang just held his staff up to act like a shield from any fire blast.
Iroh didn't show any reaction to the defense move, he just frowned looking desperate. " I need your help. I think Azula has taken Sokka and Zuko. "
Katara was caught off guard, " Explain yourself, and don't lie either ! She can tell any lie you tell. "
Iroh nodded as he looked at Toph who just waved forward.
Iroh sighed as he spoke up, " Me and my nephew had received an invite to make the King tea. Since Sokka was at the tea shop he did- "
Iroh was interrupted by Aang who held his hands up, " Wait wait wait Sokka saw you guys in a tea shop and decided to not freak out and tell the king ? " Yea that was definitely a lie, right ?
Iroh continued, " O yes I forgot we asked he didn't tell, Sokka has known we were in Ba Sing Se. We asked for an agreement, he doesn't tell anyone we are here if he watches over us. "
" Well at least we finally know why he was going to a bad tea shop. " Toph mumbled, confirming he wasn't lying.
" Did he really say my tea was bad ? "
" No, he was lying about it. He really liked the tea. "
Katara just stood there as Toph and Iroh talked, why would Sokka keep something so important from them ? She would kill him if she got her hands on him.
Iroh then looked back at Aang and Katara, " Things went bad quickly, Azula was there. We had to run, Zuko and Sokka had made it outside but I couldn't find them anywhere in town. "
Aang frowned but stepped up, " We will help, just tell us where this attack happened. It's likely Azula locked them up nearby. "
Iroh sighed in relief at that, " Thank you so much. I've also brought someone who could help us. "
Katara and Aang looked confused as they stepped up seeing a tied up Dai Li agent. Toph quickly trapped the agent in stone pillars as Katara stepped up making the water into ice daggers. She reached over to uncover his mouth and threatened him but he was already loose-lipped. " Azula and Long Feng are plotting a coup! They're going to overthrow the Earth King! They are in the crystal caverns with any prisoners ! "
Katara carefully lowered her hand, the ice disappearing, " Wow you are such a coward."
She looked back to Iroh who just nodded, turning his back to them he quickly led them right outside. They stopped right outside the castle. As Iroh walked forward looking around Toph paused carefully stomping her foot down like she was checking on something. The others looked over to her as Toph looked up, " I can sense a bunch of people under us. There is a whole area of tunnels. "
" Can you sense Sokka ? " Katara asked as Toph fell on her knees and gripped her hands down into the brick. She frowned, " No I can't sense them, but there's water down there as well. It's making it hard for me to guess who is all down there. "
Iroh nodded as he looked at Toph, " I have a feeling if we head down there we must prepare for a fight. "
Toph nodded as she stood back up. Throwing her fist towards the ground she made a tunnel that headed down, " Of course, I'm ready to bust a few of these heads. "
Iroh carefully made a fire as he used it as a light for everyone walking. Katara still gave Iroh a cautious glance as she walked alongside Toph who made the tunnel. Aang walked beside Iroh as he hummed, " So um Mr. Iroh ? "
" Just Iroh is fine. " He smiled as he looked back at him, " What is it ? You looked troubled about something. "
" O well Toph says you give good advice so I wanna ask you something. " Aang admitted as he looked forward to Katara.
Iroh nodded letting Aang continue.
" Well, I met with this guru who was supposed to help me master the Avatar State and control this great power, but to do it, I had to let go of someone I love. " Aang frowned as he stared at Katara, " I couldn't. "
Iroh noticed and just smiled amused, " Perfection and power are overrated. I think you were very wise to choose happiness and love. "
" But what if I'm not powerful enough to fight Azula ? "
" Maybe you won't but maybe you will be. I really don't have the answer to that but I do have this. Sometimes, life is like this dark tunnel. You can't always see the light at the end of the tunnel, but if you just keep moving, you will come to a better place. " Iroh smiled softly as he held Aang's shoulder.
Aang smiled, " You know you really do give good advice. "
" Thank you Aang. " Iroh smiled at him.
" Are you guys ready to attack ? " Katara asked as she looked back at them. Aang and Iroh quickly nodded right as Toph knocked down the wall.
They found themselves in a big blue crystal
catacombs water running through the middle of it. It looked like it could have been an old village with houses made. With pillars holding it up and a big square plaza in the middle.
Azula had been talking to Dai Li as the crystal walls fell down. As the Dai Li shielded themselves from the blast as Azula just looked forward, " Well they finally came. "
Right at that moment Aang, Katara, Toph, and Iroh jumped out of the wall. Azula just smirked as she stepped up crossing her arms, " I've been expecting you four. " She stepped on a higher ground. The Dai Li standing behind her like a group of loyal soldiers," Though seeing you with the Avatar isn't a surprise, Uncle. "
" Just shut it ! " Toph yelled at Azula, making Azula glare at the blind girl. How dare she boss her around! She still kept her composer, she would make her regret her words later, " Where is Sokka and Zuko ? "
Of course, she had almost forgotten about them. Azula sighed as she lost that composer a bit, making Iroh pause. She motioned for a Dai Li agent to walk up as she carefully took something out of his hands. She turned back to them and held both her hands out. She held a tea coat and a familiar boomerang.
" That's Zuko coat ! " Iroh shouted as Katara glanced back, noticing he wore something similar. But her worry was also somewhere else, " That's my brother boomerang ! Why do you have that ? "
Azula sighed as she lowered the stuff, " Well at least you confirmed the boomerang. "
" Where is my brother ! " Katara shouted one more time, Aang had to grab her shoulder to hold her back. She was terrified.
Azula just gave them a blank stare, " They are dead. They fell in the canal and drowned in the catacombs. The Dai Li said it would be- "
" YOUR LYING ! " Katara shouted glaring. " YOU ARE SUCH A SICK LIAR ! "
Katara jerked her head around looking for him, he had to just jump around the corner soon please. He had to. This was some sick lie to distract them so she could capture Aang. She could see Aang just staring forward, he looked close to tears still trying to process her words. She couldn't see Iroh's face, he had his head turned, his hands balled into fists.
Katara looked back at Toph, " TOPH ! Please tell me she is lying ! " She sounded so desperate. Toph just stared wide-eyed at the ground, tears soaking her cheeks as she shook her head.
Katara felt her breath leave her lungs, no no no no, this couldn't be happening. Azula has to be lying. Her brother isn't dead. She can't. Mom, Yue, Jet, and now Sokka and Zuko ? All dead to the fire nation all GONE.
Katara shook as she stared up at Azula who just gave a blank stare. Did Azula not feel emotions, they had both lost a brother but she just stood there. She killed them, if she wasn't here they would still be alive and well.
It was Azula's fault.
" I'LL KILL YOU ! " Katara roared with fury. She raised her arms as the water in the room raised high over everyone as she slammed her hands down on the army. That's when the battle truly started.
Katara ran forward with a shout as she erratically slammed soldiers through the walls. Toph stepped out trying to focus on fighting as she simply stood throwing rocks at anyone who dared try to face her. She made rock cuffs around a few of them, making them hang upside down or slamming their heads in walls to knock them and Azula fought one to one, fire was everywhere. The blue and orange lit up the room making the crystal dimly light up.
As they fought, Aang just stared forward hearing the screams and shouts. Aang replayed the vision in his mind over and over again. He looked around, there were so many enemies. Too many.
He had to give them up.
Aang let the tears fall down his face as he sat down creating a crystal tent around himself, " I'm sorry Katara. " He mumbled quietly as he closed his eyes.
He found himself accepting the Avatar state. Cutting ties with everyone he loved he felt the Avatar state finally activate.
The light of the Avatar state filled the room, Katara watched Aang float up with a smile.
But before Aang can let Katara go and control the Avatar State, a bolt of lightning strikes him in the back lighting the room in a sick light. Azula's watches Aang getting struck and fall, she smiled menacingly in a lightning summoning position with her fingers smoking.
Katara scream broke through the silence as she threw herself forward taking Aang in her arms. She held him, her eyes still wet as she cried more. Toph ran to her, " WE GOT TO GO NOW KATARA ! "
Katara carefully held Aang as she looked forward to seeing Iroh holding back Azula and the soldiers. Before she could call for him to follow he looked back at them, " RUN I'll hold them back ! "
Katara stared at him before she jerked her head away and ran to the exit with Aang in her arms. He was getting colder and colder. She jumped in Appa saddle with Toph. She carefully laid Aang down on his belly as she told Toph to hold his shoulders. As Appa took into the sky she got the spirit water out. Smoke started to take the sky of Ba Sing Se. It was so dark, she couldn't hardly see her hands. Using the spirit water she reached through the darkness healing Aang, this has to work. The water and wound glowed softly as she flipped Aang on his back. Toph and her both stayed quiet hoping for a sign of life.
Thankfully her prayer was answered as Aang let out a small gasp, he slowly opened his eyes only to close them again. It was enough for her. Holding him close she felt Toph lean on her shoulder holding onto her arm tightly. They stared forward as the smoke filled the sky.
Sokka's world felt dizzy, he groaned quietly, his clothes soaked. He shivered as he slowly sat up, sand covering him. Carefully looking around he noticed he was in the woods. The trees stood tall, looking to his left he suddenly spotted a body farther down the stream. Carefully standing up he walked down the river. He quickly recognized the scar on the guy's face. " Zuko ! " He shouted as he ran forward, shaking the guy's shoulder.
In an instant Zuko shot up in a coughing fit as he turned away from Sokka puking up some water. Sokka held his whine of disgust as he held Zuko back. Zuko groaned as he glanced back, seeing Sokka over his shoulder. His eyes widened as he suddenly jerked looking around, " Wait where are we ! "
Sokka sighed as he helped him stand, they looked around but eventually spotted the wall down the stream. Sokka paused as he tried to think, " I think. We are outside the wall of Ba Sing Se ? "
" WHAT ! " Zuko shouted only to go back to a coughing fit, " But Azula is in there ! I left Uncle alone with her ! "
" I know but he had to run ! If we had gotten caught we would probably be dead " Sokka turned to Zuko, " I was just expecting to find ourselves somewhere in the kingdom not outside the wall ! How confusing is this canel ! "
Zuko just sighed frustrated, " We gotta get back in there Sokka ! You have your friends, they will come back for you ! "
Sokka paused as he nodded, " Yea your right. " He looked back at the wall. He remembered the pathway. If they follow the wall they could hopefully find the entrance and get in. Sokka thought about it some more before turning to Zuko, " Here's a deal ! We will join forces to get into Ba Sing Se. Once we do we will separate to find our families. " Zuko stared at Sokka's hand as he reached out, carefully grabbing it and shaking. They would stay together just until they would find their families.
As they turned toward the wall to follow it. The sky turned dark, Sokka could have sworn he smelled smoke but blamed it on the campfire Zuko made.
Unknown to them and the rest of the world, hope had died. But maybe hope was alive in a few souls.